With General and Regional Elections set to take place this year, General Secretary of the governing People’s Progressive Party, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo today declared that persons with political ambitions will have tough questions to face once they declare their interest to run for political office.

Mr. Jagdeo began his press conference this afternoon by making it clear that he plans to go hard against detractors and opponents of the PPP this year.

Questioned about the political ambitions of well known businessman Azruddin Mohamed, who released a New Year’s address to the Nation on his social media pages triggering questions about his political ambitions, Mr. Jagdeo said Guyana remains a free country.

“This is a free country and anyone can contest the elections, however, once you declare—the same way we face scrutiny every single day, we have to face scrutiny over a whole range of issues, fairly and unfairly, I hope people are ready to answer tough questions and they would not go off crying that they are being targeted by those question,” Mr. Jagdeo said today.

Mr. Mohamed, his father and their companies were sanctioned by the US Government last year over claims of tax evasion and gold smuggling.

The Mohameds have denied the accusations and the younger Mohamed had been leading a strong public relations push on many of his projects long before those sanctions were handed down. 

Mr. Jagdeo today said every person has a right to seek political office, but they must also face scrutiny like those already serving in elected offices.

A New Year’s message from businessman Azruddin Mohamed, has been seen by some as his entrance into politics, but he has not announced any political intentions. 

As it relates to the sanctions against the businessman and his father, President Irfaan Ali recently said that Guyana is still awaiting word from the US authorities before it can proceed to take any action against the family locally.

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